Oblivion Remastered & Avowed Prove There’s More Than One Right Way To Tell An RPG Story

by

2025 has already gifted us two captivating fantasy action RPGs this year: “Avowed” and the remastered version of “Oblivion“. Having immersed myself deeply in “Avowed” when it was released, I found my thoughts drifting towards it as I delved into “Oblivion Remastered“. I must admit, I took great pleasure in “Avowed“, and I wondered if I could reconnect with the world of “The Elder Scrolls” after finding that it excels in many aspects over “Skyrim“, which is the only TES game I’ve played so far.

I soon discovered that I wouldn’t have any problems with it, since I was rapidly drawn into the captivating world of Oblivion Remastered, and I’m still enjoying my gaming experience. This led me to ponder about the unique methods each game employs when telling their stories, and how they both excel in their individual ways. It also caused me to reassess some of my opinions concerning the storytelling style of The Elder Scrolls, and understand that there isn’t a single perfect way for an RPG to convey a narrative.

Oblivion Remastered Proves The Power Of Emergent Storytelling

Oblivion Remastered’s Loose Structure Allows For Imaginative Personal Storytelling

In essence, Oblivion Remastered unfolds its tale through two primary methods: traditional quests that provide a direct narrative, and storylines that evolve organically based on your choices and the reasoning behind them – this is known as emergent storytelling. Essentially, it’s a narrative that unfolds spontaneously as you play, allowing room for interpretation as you decipher the meaning of unofficial game elements. In this way, you can weave your own unique take on events by filling in the blanks with your imagination and creating your personal account of the story.

In the realm of this captivating game, I found myself ascending to the position of the Arena’s Grand Champion. Prior to this triumphant moment, I had completed the Knights of the Nine DLC quests and wielded the Helm of the Crusader and Sword of the Crusader in every battle leading up to it. When given the chance to choose a nickname from a list, I was elated to find one titled The Divine Avenger. It turned out to be an unplanned yet fitting narrative touch, reflecting my gameplay choices perfectly.

In Oblivion Remastered, there are numerous chances to create your own backstory and interpret events based on your imagination. Unlike other games where the narrative is strictly defined, Oblivion allows for flexibility in choosing quests and determining your character’s motivations, leading to engaging thematic gameplay experiences as you weave your personal tale within the given world. While Avowed may offer similar possibilities, I found a greater number of creative opportunities in Oblivion.

Avowed’s More Linear And Constructed Narrative Accomplishes Things Oblivion’s Story Can’t

Avowed’s More Developed Story Allows Your Choices To Have Major Impacts On The World

In comparison to Oblivion Remastered, the narrative in Avowed is more structured along a single path. While you can explore individual areas, your movement across the entire world is limited and progressing the story is necessary to unlock new regions. The quests within Avowed are heavily influenced by or directly tied to the game’s main plot, making it less common for players to neglect significant events. Although this limits the opportunity for personal storytelling, it enables Avowed to achieve some impressive narrative achievements that Oblivion Remastered cannot replicate.

In one aspect, the choices you make within the game “Avowed” – including those during side quests – can significantly shape the world. The people you encounter remember your decisions, and they might affect how they interact with you later on. Over time, these choices accumulate, leading to an outcome that seems uniquely yours based on the path you’ve chosen, making each conversation captivating for me in a way that conversations in “Oblivion Remastered” rarely are.

Since Oblivion Remastered lets players decide the sequence of quests and roam the world freely, it doesn’t have as much control over shaping its narrative compared to other games. However, this isn’t a disadvantage; rather, it’s a distinction in how each game values player autonomy. While some prefer exploring at their own pace, others may enjoy having more influence on the unfolding storyline. Both approaches can deliver a rewarding RPG experience, and either choice is valid when constructing an RPG narrative.

Both RPGs Have Engaging Stories That Prove There Is No One Right Answer

Both Styles Of Storytelling Have Unique Strengths

As I delve into Oblivion Remastered, I become utterly captivated by its universe. The need to invent some aspects of the plot or characters for my gameplay keeps me fully involved. Instead of merely following the game’s flow, I’m also creating a narrative in my head based on the foundation that Oblivion provides. This makes the journey feel unique and intimate, as no one else will play Oblivion Remastered quite like I do or construct the same story for their character.

When I dive into Avowed, I get hooked by the captivating storyline it lays before me. It’s thrilling to witness the ripple effects of my decisions on the game’s world and its inhabitants. The game masterfully offers moral dilemmas that aren’t just black or white, sparking intriguing inner conflicts as I weigh each choice based on either my own values or those of the character I embody. With numerous dialogue options at my disposal, I always feel in control, shaping my gameplay experience to suit my unique style.

It’s fascinating to see how distinct these two RPG games can be and yet maintain captivating storylines, which implies that there isn’t a single formula for creating a compelling narrative in an RPG. Each approach brings its own set of advantages, enhancing the gaming experience, and I seldom yearn for one game to resemble the other more. However, it wouldn’t hurt if Oblivion Remastered borrowed some of the delightful gunplay mechanics from Avowed, or allowed me to use guns without needing ammunition for my bows. I guess there might be mods available for that, although it’s unfortunate if the game doesn’t accommodate them.

Read More

2025-05-05 00:05